News Release

Dr. Edward Panacek recently was appointed professor and chair of emergency medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. He will replace Dr. Frank Pettyjohn, founding chair of the department of emergency medicine, who will remain in the department as professor of emergency medicine and will focus on clinical research and other duties.

Dr. Panacek began his academic career in 1986 as an assistant professor of medicine in the division of critical care and emergency medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He joined the faculty at the University of California Davis School of Medicine in 1992 as associate professor of emergency medicine and was promoted to professor of emergency medicine in 1997, with a joint appointment in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Prior to joining USA, Dr. Panacek served as a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in Sacramento, Calif. He was also director of the clinical trials office and emergency medicine research associates program at UCDMC.

“Dr. Panacek is a nationally recognized leader in the field of emergency medicine, with research interests on critical care aspects of life-threatening infections such as sepsis and septic shock and respiratory emergencies such as acute severe asthma,” said Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine. “Dr. Panacek has published widely in his field and is a frequent contributor at the national annual meetings of emergency medicine physicians. Dr. Panacek has been an active member of the USA Medical Alumni Association and played an active role in the establishment of a medical scholarship endowed by the class of 1981.”

Dr. Panacek earned his medical degree from the USA College of Medicine in 1981. He completed his residency and fellowship in emergency, internal and critical care medicine at UCDMC.

He has been rewarded multiple national/international awards including: the Lifetime Achievement Award in Emergency Medicine research at the University of Maryland, department of emergency medicine; the Mitchell Award for most outstanding article published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine; the Heroes of Emergency Medicine Award, and the annual Research Award, both given by the American College of Emergency Physicians; the Hal Jayne Academic Excellence Award, given by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine; and the Meritorious Service Award, given by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

While at UCDMC, Dr. Panacek served as the inaugural program director of the emergency medicine residency program as well as the associate chief for academic affairs in the division of emergency medicine. Dr. Panacek also worked as the medical director and the associate and research director of the department of emergency medicine at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) in Cleveland. He served as the acting medical director for the university aircare helicopter program and was the director of the emergency medicine fellowship training program at UHC.

"We are excited to have Dr. Panacek as the new chair of emergency medicine,” said Beth Anderson, hospital administrator at USA Medical Center. “He brings great depth of knowledge and experience that will assist our emergency departments in making the changes needed to meet the challenges ahead of us.”

Dr. Panacek has many years of research as well as more than 300 publications including original publications, book chapters, invited manuscripts, limited distribution, correspondence, book reviews, acknowledgments and alternative media publications. During his time at UCDMC he had additional professional experience including serving as the technical advisor for the television program “Untold stories from the ER.”

Dr. Panacek is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Critical Care Medicine and American Academy of Emergency Medicine.